Boating, fishing and swimming mark the beginning of summer activities.

Tragedy, however, often mars the fun of being in and near water.

A 63-year-old Schuylkill County man drowned in the Lehigh River April 24 when he was swept downstream while fishing with a friend.

In two separate incidents in May, a 72-year-old Berks County man drowned after falling into the Lehigh River near Slatington and a 26-year-old Forks Township man also drowned in the same river while kayaking.

Recently, a 6-year-old Northampton County boy was revived after he was pulled from the bottom of the family swimming pool during a Memorial Day party and a retired firefighter and neighbor successfully performed CPR on him.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States."

Most at risk are children ages 1 to 4 and nearly 80 percent of people who die from drowning are male.

There are several ways to remain safe while having fun around the water this summer.

·Never swim alone; always swim with a buddy.

·Swim only in designated areas with a licensed lifeguard on duty.

·Be sure everyone in the family knows how to swim. If not, enroll them in an age-appropriate swimming class at the local pool or American Red Cross.

·Never leave children unsupervised around pools, rivers or lakes.

·Use approved life jackets on young children when swimming.

·Remove all inflatable inner tubes, rafts or beach balls from pools when not in use, as they can attract young children.

·Install barriers, fencing or safety cover around the entire length of home swimming pools. If it is an above-ground pool, remove any access to the ladder.

·Avoid use of alcohol when near water or boating.

If anyone goes missing near a pool, river or lake, first check the water. Then, immediately call 911 if you cannot locate that person.

Start CPR when the individual is found. Seconds count in a drowning.

For a happier summer, make water safety a top priority.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press